Luxury Unveiled: Kimpton Palomar Philadelphia - Your Dream Stay Awaits
Luxury Unveiled: Kimpton Palomar Philadelphia - Your Dream Stay Awaits
Luxury Unveiled: Kimpton Palomar Philadelphia - My Dream Stay? (Or Maybe Just a Really Good One?)
Okay, so let's talk about the Kimpton Palomar in Philadelphia. "Luxury Unveiled," they say. Sounds fancy, right? And honestly, for the most part… it kind of is. Prepare yourself, because this review is gonna be a bit of a rollercoaster, just like my actual stay. Buckle up, buttercups.
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First Impressions (And a Minor Freak-Out About Accessibility)
Pulling up to the Palomar, you're greeted with that sleek, modern Kimpton vibe. Think art deco meets… well, whatever the heck "upscale chic" is these days. Right away, I was on a mission to assess the real deal on accessibility. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I travel with someone who is, and it's ALWAYS a huge factor.
- Accessibility: The good news is, they've tried. There's a ramp at the entrance (thank GOODNESS, because pulling up to a set of daunting steps is a total mood killer), and the front desk staff seemed ready to help with whatever we needed. However, on the website, it said there's "universal design throughout" but when we got to the elevators, they felt a little bit cramped. The corridors were wide enough, but when we got up to the room it was… fine. Not over-the-top accessible, but workable. Let's call it a solid B on the accessibility scale. They’re trying, but there is room for improvement.
- Wheelchair Accessible: As mentioned, while the rooms are technically wheelchair accessible, the actual spaciousness of the bathroom wasn't as large as it could have been for easy maneuvering. Something to keep in mind.
- Elevator: Elevators worked fast and clean, but could be better designed.
The Room: A Sanctuary (Mostly) of Modern Comfort
Alright, let's get into the lair. We booked a non-smoking room with, thankfully, Air Conditioning (essential in Philly summers). The room boasted a High floor and a Window that opens (a crucial detail for this claustrophobe).
Available in all rooms features included: Air conditioning (a must!), Alarm clock, Bathrobes (yes!), Bathroom phone (seriously?) Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Closet, Coffee/tea maker (praise be!), Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water (again, yes!), Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], and… I think that's it!
Minor Quibble: The Additional toilet that it said that the room has, that wasn't true. They didn't have it.
The Good: The bed was ridiculously comfortable. Like, "I could live here" comfortable. The soundproofing was also a lifesaver, because Philly has a lot of city noises. The room was sparkling clean, evidence of their efforts on Rooms sanitized between stays and all the other things like…Professional-grade sanitizing services. It felt safe, which is always a win.
The "Meh": The decor was… well, it was modern. Neutral tones, a pop of color here and there. It's perfectly fine, but didn't particularly wow me. It lacked a bit of soul. That being said, I did greatly enjoyed the Coffee/tea maker.
Internet Adventures (Or Lack Thereof)
- Internet Access: Ah, the modern-day essential. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Yes! And the Internet was generally reliable, but sometimes lagged when using conference calls, especially during peak hours.
- Internet [LAN] This option wasn't there!
- Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas: Wi-Fi generally good.
Food and Drink: Exploring the Gastronomic Landscape
This is where things get interesting. The Palomar houses a few options.
Restaurants:
A la carte, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant are some of the options. The food was great!
Breakfast in room
Breakfast takeaway service
Asian breakfast
Breakfast [buffet]
Breakfast service
- Western breakfast
Bar: I spent a considerable amount of time at the cocktail bar downstairs (research, you know). The bartenders were friendly and the cocktails were creative and delicious, and they have Happy hour!
Poolside bar, was sadly not open during my stay,
Coffee shop: Coffee shop was good with great Coffee/tea in restaurant
Dining, drinking, and snacking:
Bottle of water
Snack bar
Room service [24-hour] (Major points for this! Because sometimes, you just need a burger at 2 AM).
The Staff trained in safety protocol.
Sanitized kitchen and tableware items
Alternative meal arrangement if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions.
Safe dining setup
The Imperfection: During one breakfast, the service was a little slow. And there was one morning where they ran out of croissants. Croissants! In a Kimpton! The horror! (Okay, I exaggerate, but I LOVE croissants). I'm being nitpicky, I know, but it's my job.
Relaxation & Recreation: Spa, Fitness, and Pools (Oh My!)
- Pool with view: Sadly, the pool was closed which was disappointing, although the view looked great.
- Swimming pool [outdoor] Nope!
- Swimming pool Also a no-go, but there was a spa!
- Spa/sauna/Steamroom The spa looked amazing. I did however decide to spend 5 minutes on the Sauna, and I had a good time!
- Gym/fitness The Fitness center was great, with great selection of equipment, but it was a bit crowded at peak times. So consider what time of day you're visiting it.
- Ways to relax, There was a Foot bath and Massage which I passed on, but the massage rooms looked very calming.
- Body scrub
- Body wrap
- After my 5 minutes in the sauna, I decided to take a shower and scrub myself and get a body wrap.
Cleanliness and Safety: A Modern Priority
This is where the Palomar genuinely shines. Given the current world situation, they've clearly taken sanitation seriously. They provide Hand sanitizer everywhere. I saw evidence of Daily disinfection in common areas and Professional-grade sanitizing services.
- Safety/security feature: The Fire extinguisher was present, and CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property gave peace of mind.
- Rooms sanitized between stays.
- Anti-viral cleaning products
- Hygiene certification
- Individually-wrapped food options
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter
- Room sanitization opt-out available
- Staff trained in safety protocol
- Sterilizing equipment
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things Matter
Okay, here's a lightning round of other things I noticed:
- Concierge: Super helpful. They gave me great recommendations for places to eat other than the hotel (because, you know, variety is the spice of life).
- Daily housekeeping: The cleaning staff were efficient and friendly.
- Dry cleaning, Ironing service, Laundry service: All available, and I needed them!
- Cash withdrawal, Currency exchange, Luggage storage, Elevator
- Gift/souvenir shop
- **
Kimpton Palomar Philadelphia: My Love-Hate Affair (and the Room Service Bill That Still Haunts Me)
Okay, here's the deal. I'm not a travel blogger, I'm just… me. Which means this "itinerary" for my stay at the Kimpton Palomar in Philly isn't going to be slick. It's going to be messy, opinionated, and probably involve way too much Prosecco. Buckle up.
Day 1: Arrival, Anxiety, and Almost-Perfect Pizza
- 1:00 PM: Touchdown Anxiety & First Impressions. Philadelphia! I love Philly! Until I'm in Philly and the sheer density of…well, everything…hits me. The Palomar looks cool online, all sleek and modern in its old Art Deco building. The lobby? Fine. It actually felt a little too pristine, like I was in a museum and not a hotel. I swear I spent a solid 15 minutes just casing the place for any sign of, you know, life. Turns out, it was hidden upstairs.
- 1:30 PM: Check-in & A Room with a View (…of a Brick Wall?). The check-in was smooth. Too smooth. Almost suspiciously so. Then I get to my room. Ah, the irony. I'd somehow snagged a room with a spectacular view…of the building next door. Sigh. You win some, you lose some. Decided to let it go. The room itself was decent, good size, nice layout and of course, the Palomar's signature animal print robe (that I did actually steal, shh!).
- 2:00 PM: The Quest for Pizza Perfection. Hunger gnaws, so naturally, pizza is the answer. I'd heard amazing things about a place called Pizzeria Vetri a few blocks away. Now, listen, I love pizza. I’m talking deep, soul-level love. The trek involved a slight detour through a particularly charming (and slightly unsettling) street corner, complete with a pigeon with an attitude problem. Vetri? Glorious. Simple, perfect, wood-fired bliss. Ate the whole thing. No regrets.
- 4:00 PM: The Rooftop Bar - Or, the Place Where I Met My Future Ex-Husband (Maybe). The view from the hotel's rooftop bar (called Stratus Lounge) was actually pretty good, even if the "view" from my room was… well, you know. The cocktails were (expensive) delicious, and the atmosphere was buzzing. I might have struck up a conversation with a guy who was wearing a ridiculously oversized fedora and kept talking about blockchain. Fun story for later, maybe. Or not.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner Fiasco: The Inevitable Restaurant Fail. Armed with a glowing recommendation from the hotel concierge (who, to be fair, was incredibly friendly) I went to a highly-rated Italian restaurant nearby (I won't name names, but let's just say it was a very popular, trendy place). It was… meh. Overpriced, pretentious, and the pasta was so undercooked it could have been used in the next archeological dig. I left feeling defeated and vowing never to trust online reviews again (famous last words).
- 9:00 PM: Room Service & Regret-Filled Late Night Internet Stalking. Back in the Palomar cocoon. Feeling slightly sorry for myself after the dinner experience. Ordered fries and a burger. And, because I had totally lost any sense of self-control, some extra fries. The burger tasted pretty good, but the fries? They were amazing. Dipped them with almost sadistic glee in a ketchup packet. Started scrolling through Instagram, probably for hours. Remembered that time I was actually good at the internet and then fell off the wagon. Then remembered the fries. Life is a rollercoaster, people.
Day 2: Culture, Caffeine, and the Room Service Bill That Still Keeps Me Up At Night
- 8:00 AM: Sleep In and Coffee Panic! Okay, so the Palomar has a coffee machine, so I thought that was the answer. I thought that I was the answer. I have never been more wrong! The thing spat out something that resembled muddy dishwater. Needed a real coffee. Desperately.
- 9:00 AM: Getting My Philly On: The Barnes Foundation. This place is mind-blowing. Monet, Renoir, Matisse… all hanging out casually in a beautiful building. I'm not a massive art person, or at least, I didn't think I was, but I was genuinely moved. Spent way too much time staring at one of the water lilies paintings. It was a true moment of peace in my chaotic trip.
- 12:00 PM: The Perfect Sandwich (Finally!). Lunch. Tried to be brave. Avoided the fancy restaurants. Went to a deli on the advice of the helpful people at the Barnes Foundation. Had a roast beef sandwich that changed my life. Seriously. Simple, fresh, perfect. The deli itself was this little local dive with people arguing about politics, all the best.
- 2:00 PM: A Stroll Through History (and More Pigeon Encounters). Walked around Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Honestly, it’s hard to be jaded when you're staring at the birthplace of a nation. Still, all the pigeons were kinda aggressive.
- 4:00 PM: The Rooftop Bar (Again). Look, I'm not proud. The rooftop bar at the Palomar was just… convenient. Plus, the view was undeniably great when the Philadelphia sun was beaming. Another cocktail, this time with a tiny umbrella. This time, no fedora guy, thank god.
- 7:00 PM: The Room Service Debacle (Or, How I Lost My Sanity and My Credit Card Limit). This is where things went sideways. After a day of sightseeing and cocktails, I was feeling lazy. Room service. Sounded like a good idea at the time. Ordered everything. I mean, EVERYTHING. The Palomar's room service menu is a siren song of deliciousness. Grilled cheese! Truffle fries! Cheeseburgers! Chocolate cake! I blame the cocktails. The food was decent, but the bill…the bill was an actual crime against humanity. The next morning, when they slipped the bill, I almost choked on my non-existent coffee. It was more than my first rent payment. More than my car's insurance. I almost burst into tears. It was a true moment of crisis. I'm pretty sure I mumbled something about "the economy" to the front desk lady. She just smiled and said, "It happens."
- 9:00 PM: Sleepless Nights and Room Service Regret. Back in my room the night before, I took a moment to consider my life. I was going to check out in the morning. Going to pay my bill. And never, never order room service ever again!
Day 3: Departure & The Lingering Taste of Truffle Fries (and Debt)
- 9:00 AM: Check Out & the Final Act of Denial. Check-out was a blur. I handed over the key card, tried not to make eye contact, and practically ran for the door. Promised myself to start a savings account.
- 9:15 AM: One Last Grudge-Fueled Coffee. This time, I went to a proper coffee shop. It was amazing. Needed a coffee. Desperately.
- 10:00 AM: Goodbye Philly… for Now. Standing on the curb, I looked back at the Palomar. It's a nice hotel, I guess. But that room service bill…it still makes me shudder. I'll be back, Philly. I just need a few months to recover financially (and mentally). Maybe next time I'll skip the truffle fries. Maybe.
Okay, spill the tea: Is the Kimpton Palomar Philadelphia actually *that* luxurious? Because my bank account is already weeping.
Alright, let's be real. "Luxury" is a loaded word, yeah? My expectations are high. I had a mini-meltdown trying to park (city parking, am I right?!), but after that… *whoa*. The lobby? Think art deco meets "I'm ready for a Gatsby party, but also, can I get a coffee?" The rooms are swanky, *no lie*. Huge windows that let you feel like you own the city, ridiculously comfy beds (I swear, I melted into it), and a bathroom that practically begs you to stay in it all day. Is it like, "Rolls Royce and a private jet" luxury? No. But is it "I deserve this pampering" luxury? Absolutely. Worth the splurge. Just plan your parking situation *before* you arrive. Trust me.
What's the vibe, though? Like, can I wear my PJs to the happy hour? Or do I need to bring my designer shoes?
Okay, that's the *best* question. Vibe is crucial. The Palomar gets it right. It's got that effortless cool, like, "Sure, wear your pajamas, darling. But maybe add a scarf, just because." Seriously, it's stylish without being pretentious. Saw people in everything from jeans and sneakers to cocktail dresses. Happy hour? It's *on* at the hotel’s restaurant, Square 1682 (which by the way, is a story in itself, we'll get to it). Great cocktails, good food, and a seriously buzzing atmosphere. So, PJs? Maybe after you've snagged your fill of cocktails.
About Square 1682... what’s the food situation? Are we talking tiny portions and exorbitant prices? Because, again, my bank account...
Okay, so Square 1682. Here's the truth. The ambiance? Excellent. The food? Generally *really* good. Definitely not tiny portions, thank goodness! I had a burger and fries one night (I know, I know, sophisticated, right?). It was cooked perfectly. My dining companion ordered a pasta dish that was absolutely divine (I may have "sampled" a considerable amount). The pricing is what you'd expect for this level of dining. It is a *tad* more than your average diner, but the quality justifies it. Would I go there *every* night? Probably not. But for a treat, or a special occasion, absolutely. Plus, they have fantastic cocktails. Again, cocktails. My wallet isn't *thrilled*, but my taste buds were singing!
The location… is it actually in the middle of things? Or am I going to be hoofing it for miles to get anywhere fun?
YES. The location is *gold*. It's smack-dab in the heart of Center City. Seriously, walkability is key here. Literally steps from Rittenhouse Square, which is gorgeous, and a great place to chill out. Close to shopping, restaurants, museums, all that Philadelphia goodness. We were able to walk almost everywhere we wanted to go. Saved a fortune on Ubers, to be honest! Huge win. You’re close to everything, yet it’s somehow tucked away, feeling like a little oasis of calm. A perfect home base.
Okay, *the* experience. What was the single best thing? Don't give me the corporate-speak, give me REAL.
Alright, buckle up. My single best experience? Honestly? It's a tie. First, the rooftop. That bar? The views? Breathtaking. Just sipping a cocktail, watching the sunset over the city... pure magic. I got a *terrible* picture, but the memory of the moment? Unforgettable. Secondly... Okay, so this is embarrassing. I accidentally locked myself out of my room. At like, midnight. Wearing pajamas. And a face mask, don't ask. The reception staff were *amazing*. So kind, so helpful, and made me laugh when I was about to cry. Seriously, the service? Impeccable. Those two experiences together really made the stay.
Any downsides? Like, is there anything I should be warned about?
Okay, real talk. The biggest downside? The price! It's not a budget stay. But, consider it an investment in your sanity. And, as I mentioned, parking can be a pain (and expensive!). Also, and this is a small thing, but... the elevators can be a little slow during peak times. So don't be in a HUGE rush. Otherwise? Honestly, I'm struggling to find major faults. Maybe I’m still glowing after the experience.
The art… I keep seeing pictures of quirky art. What's the deal? Is it pretentious art?
Oh, the art! The art is a *big* part of the Palomar's charm! It’s decidedly *not* pretentious. It's the kind of art that makes you smile, or maybe scratch your head a little, but definitely gets you talking. Think colourful pieces, modern sculptures, and interesting photographs. It adds personality and a playful vibe to the whole place. I'm not an art critic, but I'm a fan. It definitely elevates the ambiance. It's not the kind of art that makes you feel like you need to whisper and stand at a respectful distance. It’s art you can appreciate while waiting for your (amazing) coffee.
They tout "pet-friendly". Are we talking "a water bowl and a shingle of a dog treat" friendly? Or actually *pet* friendly-friendly?
Okay, this is important, especially for the dog lovers! The Palomar is *actually* pet-friendly-friendly. We saw dogs of all shapes and sizes, happy as can be. They get treats at the front desk! I didn't travel with my dog, sadly, But seeing them, I'm confident your fur babies will experience the same amazing treatment which made me smile! So, if you're traveling with your best friend, this place is a win. Major kudos to them for getting this right.
Would you go back? Be brutally honest.
Absolutely. Escape to Paradise: Eurostars Cascais Awaits in Portugal!
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